
CBN BRNCH 


|^p,nther&* 
Orphans’ and 


TOLEDO 


By H» G Bitter 












































































































































































































Book 


Copyright N°._ 

COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 

























A History 

of 

The Lutheran Orphans’ and 
Old Folks’ Home 

at 

Toledo, Ohio 


By H. C. BITTER 

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>> 5 


1923 

THE TOLEDO LUTHERAN PUBLISHING CO. 
TOLEDO, OHIO 




W\l°[C\s 

T&L* 


COPYRIGHT, 1923, BY 
H. C. BITTER 



AOb 27 1923 

©C1A711G50 


A A 


i 


LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 


Page 

Pastor Johannes Doerfler. 4 

The Board of Trustees.8-9 

First St. John’s Church and Parsonage.10 

The Farm House...16 

Orphans’ and Old Folks’ Home...22 

Pastor Karl Beckel. 26 

The Grove.30 

Our Old Folks. 34 

The Orphans’ Family... 38 

One of the School Rooms.42 

The Dining Room. 46 

The Auditorium .48 

One of the Sleeping Rooms.50 

The Nursery. 54 

The Office and Reception Room.58 

The Garden . 61 


















The Board of Trustees 



Rev. W. P. Dimke, 
President 


Rev. Wm. Wacke, 
Institution Pastor 


Rev. E. W. Matzner 
Advisory member 




Rev. T. G. Klinksick, 
Secretary 


Ernest F. Keller 
Treasurer 





Dr. Charles C. Dreyer, A. R. Kuhlman 

Chief of Medical Staff Vice-president 

and Acting Supt. 


John F. Wairner 


8 
















The Board of Trustees 



Oscar Heck linger 


Rev. Theodor Meier 


Rev. Max Schleicher 



Rev. Harry Sc’nalkhauser 


Herman A. Kruetjer 



Arthur Lebowsky 


Jacob F. Nesper 


Albert Dier 


9 
















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10 


rhtei- and grand-daughter. 






Preamble 


For quite a time it has been contemplated 
to publish a booklet, giving the most inter¬ 
esting facts of the origin and gradual de¬ 
velopment of our Institutions of mercy on 
the East Side. Anyone who wishes to see 
can follow the guiding hand of an all-merci¬ 
ful God in this w 7 ork, begun some sixty years 
ago by the sainted Pastor Doerfler and car¬ 
ried on by men who were confident that this 
work was God’s work and therefore could 
not perish. Acts 5 v. 39. Now our people 
who have shown such a fine zeal throughout 
the many years of the existence of these In¬ 
stitutions and who did not rest until an Or¬ 
phans’ Home was erected, which is the pride 
of all who have participated in the erection 
thereof, can at their leisure read of the 
small beginning and gradual development of 
this God-pleasing work. Throughout all 
these years the Lord has not withdrawn His 


11 


protecting 1 hand in spite of our many failings 
and sins. 

The Orphans’ and Old Folks’ Home Society 
hopes that this book will be bought and read 
by thousands of Lutherans from far and 
near. 

The surplus which the selling of this book 
may bring, will be used to reduce the debt 
of the Building Fund. May God bless the 
journey of this little messenger so that an 
even greater interest may be awakened in 
the hearts of our Lutheran constituency, so 
that our work may be carried on with ever 
greater efficiency and zeal. 

Written July the 2nd, A. D. 1923. 

REV. W. P. DIMKE, 
President of the Board. 


12 


Foreword 


In writing a brief history of our Orphans' 
Home and Old Folks’ Home, I want to first 
give praise and thanksgiving to our Lord 
and Saviour, Jesus Christ, by Whose guid¬ 
ing hand, and through Whose tender mercies 
these Institutions have now become a monu¬ 
ment, not only to the Lutheran Church, but 
to the entire community. I want to also 
pay tribute to those men who, away back in 
the fifties made greater sacrifices than are 
known today, to establish these Institutions. 
Among these was the founder, Pastor John 
Doerfler, H. H. Samson, Christian Rudolph, 
Henry Blankemeier, J. F. W. Bitter, Jacob 
Nesper, and perhaps some others. Just a 
few years later came such venerable and 
staunch supporters as Clausing, Lalendorff, 
Schroeder, Koch brothers, Pastor Beckel, 
Pastor Deindoerfer, Kelb, the Kuhlmans, 
Driftmeier and many others. Under God, I 
want to dedicate this brief history to these 
men, especially, however, to Pastor Doerfler, 
the founder of these Institutions; to Pastor 


13 


Beckel, who baptized and confirmed me, and 
to John F. W. Bitter, my sainted grand¬ 
father. 

The younger generation who may read 
these pages, must not overlook the fact, 
that in the early days, or in the days when 
these Institutions were established, there 
was not a road beyond what is now Front 
and Main streets, in East Toledo. Our fore¬ 
fathers followed the trail through the woods 
to that grand and glorious spot upon the hill 
where they established this monument. In 
those days it meant sacrifice to present a 
cow to an institution. It also meant sac¬ 
rifice to give one hundred dollars, or even 
ten dollars. In those days mechanics would 
walk for miles and toil twelve hours for ten 
shillings; leather boots were eight dollars 
per pair, and flour was $18.00 per barrel. 

The facts contained in this brief history 
for the first fifty years, covering from 1860 
to 1910 are gleaned from “Die Geschichte des 
Luth. Waisenhauses zu Toledo, Ohio, ,, writ¬ 
ten by Rev. Simon Poppen for the Golden 
Jubilee of these Institutions. 


The Author. 


14 


FIRST PERIOD—1860-1870 


During this period, Pastor Johannes 
Doerfler was director of the Orphans’ 
Home. Let it be remembered that in those 
days the Old Folks’ Home was not yet 
thought of. Pastor Johannes Doerfler, who 
was then pastor of Salem Lutheran Church, 
inspired by Almighty God, conceived the 
idea to establish an Orphans’ Home in To¬ 
ledo. He solicited the co-operation of 
Messrs. H. H. Samson, C. Rudolph, H. Blanke- 
meier, J. F. W. Bitter and Fr. Doerfler. These 
men with Pastor Doerfler constituted the 
membership of the Orphans’ Home Society. 
This organization was formed on August 6, 
1860. “The Society for General work of 
Mercy in the Sense of the Evangelical Luth¬ 
eran Church in North America” was organ¬ 
ized August 15th of the same year. “The 
Home for Widows and Orphans of Toledo,” 
an English institution, was dissolved at the 
time this society was organized. Two of 
the children in that institution were taken 
into the Doerfler parsonage and treated as 
members of their own family by Pastor and 
Mrs. Doerfler. Others were added to the 


15 



16 


This is the old house which is several times herein referred to as the “Farm House.” In the early 
days this house was the abode of the Older boys. It is now occupied by the Farmer and his family. 
The barn, grainery and tool shed are shown to the right. 





pastor’s family shortly thereafter. Permit 
me to mention here that Mrs. Pastor Doerfler 
and Miss Kathrina Blankemeier who was 
then maid at the parsonage, and who by the 
way lived until less than two years ago, pro¬ 
vided for the pastor’s children and the or¬ 
phans, among whom no distinction whatso¬ 
ever was made. 

Pastor Doerfler, about this time, estab¬ 
lished the First St. John’s Congregation on 
the East Side, and had for sometime con¬ 
ducted services at the Koehne home and in 
Clausing’s granery. In conversing with the 
pioneer members of this congregation he 
found an opportunity to purchase ten acres 
of ground where the Institution now stands 
at thirty-five dollars per acre. Mr. Samson 
donated two acres additional from his ad¬ 
joining property, making the Orphans’ home 
site twelve acres. Building operations were 
immediately begun. It is needless to say 
that most of the labor and a great deal of 
the material was donated. Pastor Poppen 
quotes the Protokoll regarding the building 
as follows: “Many a sigh and many a fer¬ 
vent prayer arose to the Father of all Mercy 
before this building of mercy and love was 
completed.” By the grace of God, the Home 
was dedicated on the 7th of July, 1862. 


17 


The collection at the dedicatory services 
amounted to fifty-four dollars. I might 
state here that I feel that this amount was 
greater per capita than the collections 
amount to today. Miss Katherina Blanke- 
meier was appointed house-mother with her 
mother as assistant. Pastor Karl Beckel at 
this time was called to the newly organized 
St. John's Congregation, and served as 
teacher for the orphans, as well as for the 
children of his own parish. On August 12, 
1866, Pastor Doerfler resigned the pastorate 
of Salem Congregation and moved to the 
Orphans' Home with his family. He served 
as house-father until January, 1870, when 
he resigned to accept a call to Bridgewater, 
Michigan. By the grace of God, Pastor 
Doerfler was permitted to serve this congre¬ 
gation for a number of years when he was 
finally called to his reward. He is the 
founder of our Orphans’ Home. We honor 
his memory and his name will be kept in 
loving remembrance. 

I glean from Rev. Poppen’s history 
that flour at that time was eighteen dol¬ 
lars per barrel. Those were Civil War 
days. On one occasion during that time the 
flour bin was empty and the house-father 
went to the city in hope of finding someone 


18 


who would trust him for a barrel of flour. 
It is stated that the previous barrel, which 
had already been consumed was not yet paid 
for. On this trip he was met by a friend of 
the Institution who expressed his joy at 
meeting him, because he had started to walk 
to the Home to inform him that someone 
had left two barrels of flour at his home as 
a gift to the orphans. Truly, God hears the 
prayers of His servants. The first cow was 
presented to the Orphans’ Home by John F. 
W. Bitter. Salem Congregation presented 
the institution with its first horse and 
wagon. 


19 


SECOND PERIOD—1870-1894 


Ten years have passed since the found¬ 
ing of the Institution. Many things have 
changed during this time, even to the man¬ 
agement or rather the Directorship of the 
Home. Pastor Beckel, pastor of First St. 
John’s Church, is now the Director. History 
was made during 1870. On the 26th of Jan¬ 
uary of that year, “The Society for General 
Work of Mercy in the sense of the Evangel¬ 
ical Lutheran Church in North America” 
held an annual meeting. In addition to the 
pastors of the city, belonging to the Iowa 
Synod, there were three laymen in atten¬ 
dance. These were Messrs. H. H. Samson, 
J. F. W. Bitter and Jacob Nesper. The elec¬ 
tion of officers at this meeting resulted in 
the election of Pastor Johannes Deindoerfer, 
President; Director Karl Beckel, Treasurer, 
and Pastor Karl Ernst Bode, Secretary. 
Resolutions were passed extending a call to 
Mr. Frederick Riehmann, of Mt. Pulaski, 
Illinois, to accept the position as house¬ 
father. Mr. Riehmann accepted and was in¬ 
stalled on April 18, 1870. On July 14th of 


20 


this same year another meeting was called 
and the first Trustees of the organization 
were elected. They were Christian Rudolph, 
J. F. W. Bitter and Jacob Nesper. At a 
meeting of the Board of Trustees on Decem¬ 
ber 4, 1870, the secretary reported having 
received the articles of incorporation from 
the Secretary of State and having delivered 
the document to Mr. H. H. Samson. The 
president, Pastor Deindoerfer had recently 
accepted a call to St. Paul’s Church, Defi¬ 
ance, Ohio; consequently, Director Beckel 
was elected vice-president at this Board 
meeting. Miss Bertha Rippas was elected 
teacher of the Orphans’ Home School. As 
is the custom to this day, the Annual Fes¬ 
tivals were held regularly at which devo¬ 
tional services were conducted both in the 
forenoon and afternoon. 

It was the fond hope of the founder of this 
institution that some day a Deaconess 
Motherhouse and a Hospital could be built 
in addition to the Orphans’ Home. It was 
this thought which suggested the name of 
the organization as recorded in the begin¬ 
ning of this writing. 

A considerable sum of money was appro¬ 
priated for this cause by Pastor Loehe, who 
also was heartily in favor of establishing 


21 



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22 



such a colony of institutions. At the annual 
meeting of the Society, on August 17, 1873, 
this matter was again discussed. Attention 
was called to the fact that Deaconesses are 
particularly adapted to the care and bring¬ 
ing up of orphans. Pastor J. J. Schmidt, of 
Detroit, Michigan, reported at this meeting 
that a young lady, Miss Lutz, of his congre¬ 
gation had expressed a willingness to enter 
the Motherhouse for training for this work. 
Pursuant to resolutions passed, Miss Lutz 
was sent to Neuendettelsau, Germany. The 
expense of her training was paid from the 
interest earned on the capital loaned the So¬ 
ciety by Pastor Loehe. At a Board meeting 
on July 28, 1874, resolutions were passed 
electing Sister Anna Lutz as house-mother 
for the Orphans’ Home. Sister Lutz accept¬ 
ed the call and was installed on October 4, 
1874. Mr. Riehmann and his family, along 
with the older boys of the institution then 
moved into the farm house which still stands 
across the street from the Institution. On 
February 23, 1876, Mr. Riehmann resigned 
his position. A Mr. Forkel was elected suc¬ 
cessor to Mr. Riehmann. His administra¬ 
tion was extremely unsatisfactory, and he 
was asked to resign at the end of three 
months’ service. A Miss DeMerris also 


23 


proved extremely unsatisfactory and was 
asked to resign after a brief period of ser¬ 
vice. At this time, Sister Lutz also resigned 
her position as house-mother. The Direct¬ 
orship of Pastor Beckel was by no means a 
“constant path of roses.” A call was then 
extended to Mr. Herman Christel, who 
served the Institution faithfully for many 
years. At a meeting on June 2, 1876, father 
Rippas was elected teacher for the Institu¬ 
tion and Miss Bertha Rippas was elected 
house-mother. Both accepted the call. Mr. 
Christel occupied the farm house across the 
street and Director Beckel had general 
supervision of the Institution. By the grace 
of God, the work of the Institution was 
again permitted to proceed. Mr. Christel 
not only served as house-father and economy 
director, but also served as collector for the 
Institution. 

In those days it was the custom to canvass 
congregations within a considerable radius 
from Toledo for money and produce. In 
fact, this is still the custom to the present 
day. Pastor Poppen here mentions that the 
pastors of the Iowa, Ohio and Michigan 
Synods co-operated heartily in the work of 
this Institution. He also records the fact 
that Mrs. Christel was called to her reward 


24 


and that some time later Miss Bertha Rip- 
pas and Mr. Christel were married and that 
Mr. Christel was elected house-father of the 
Institution. 

The Bruns Brothers, of Woodville, Ohio, 
had become warm supporters of the Institu¬ 
tion, and tried with word and deed to do 
everything in their power for this cause. 
On one occasion Mr. Henry Bruns and Pas¬ 
tor Cronenwett, then pastor of Solomon’s 
Congregation at Woodville, Ohio, invited the 
entire Orphans’ Home family and arranged 
a service in Solomon’s Church, to which the 
neighboring congregations were all invited. 
The Pennsylvania Railroad Company pro¬ 
vided free transportation for the return trip. 
An enjoyable day was spent by all. 

Such outings in those days were indeed 
few and far between. Nowadays, or in late 
years, since our Home commands more gen¬ 
eral recognition, our children are entertained 
more frequently. The Toledo Automobile 
Club, The Lion Store, The White Star Line 
and several local Brotherhoods provide quite 
numerous auto tours, excursions to Sugar 
Island, trips to Toledo Beach, etc. 

The first addition to the original home was 
built in 1881 , at a cost of fifteen hundred 
dollars. At a meeting of the Board of Di- 


25 



26 












rectors on June 9, 1885, teacher Christian 
Lohmann was called to the office of teacher 
at the Institution. In 1888, at a meeting on 
February 7th, Mr. Christel resigned as 
house-father. His resignation was accepted 
with regret. At this meeting, Mr. David 
Fetzer, of Waterville, Ohio, was elected suc¬ 
cessor to Mr. Christel. On July 10, 1889, 
pursuant to Resolutions of the Society, a 
strip of land was sold to the First St. John’s 
Congregation for a cemetery. The amount 
received was $301.65. At the Society meet¬ 
ing on February 4, 1890, the secretary was 
able to report that fifty-four children, thirty- 
three boys and twenty-one girls were being- 
cared for at the Home. The household ex¬ 
penses were reported as $2,435.87, most all 
of which amount was raised by free will of¬ 
ferings. Upon acceptance of teacher Loh- 
mann’s resignation, teacher Oelwein was 
elected to that position. Teacher Oelwein 
presented his resignation after less than a 
year of service. Director, Pastor Beckel, 
was unable to attend the annual meeting on 
January 30 and 31, 1894, and was called to 
his reward shortly thereafter. Pastor 
Beckel served the Institution and the First 
St. John’s Congregation almost a quarter of 
a century; a sincere, consecrated Pastor; a 


27 


man devoted to the orphans; a quiet, modest, 
faithful cross-bearer; an excellent Christian 
gentleman; a doctor who ministered and ad¬ 
ministered to the physical and spiritual 
needs of his congregation; a man subject to 
call night and day, often riding hose-back or 
walking through the mud for miles to the 
bedside of a sick or dying parishioner; a 
man who bore the heart pangs of misdeeds 
of others patiently and quietly. Yea, in¬ 
deed— 

“Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord 
from henceforth. Yea, saith the Spirit, that 
they may rest from their labors and their 
works do follow them/’ 


28 


THE THIRD PERIOD—1894-1910 


During this period, of which the writer 
has a fairly clear recollection, the Reverend 
and Mrs. Frederick Schmeltz had charge of 
the Institution. Rev. Schmeltz was elected 
at a Board meeting on February 6, 1894. At 
this meeting the position of House-father 
and Director were combined. Mr. Theo. 
Fickenscher was elected teacher at this 
meeting. An addition to the Orphans’ 
Home, 31 x 58 feet, was ordered built. A 
constitution which had been discussed at 
several previous meetings was adopted at 
this meeting. At the annual meeting of 
the society on February 6, 1899, resolutions 
were passed to build a school house. The 
contract was awarded to Mr. H. Kuhlman. 
At this time also, Miss Ottilia Schmeltz was 
elected teacher of the Orphans’ Home school 
to succeed Mr. Fickenscher, who had accept¬ 
ed a call to St. Petri school. From this 
time until their school was discontinued, the 
older orphans attended the Parochial School 
of the First St. John’s Church. Mr. Theo¬ 
dore Fickenscher was called as teacher to 
succeed Mr. Oelwein. 


29 



30 


THE GROVE 

This picture shows that portion of the Grove where for sixty-three years the Bread of Life has been 
broken at the Annual Festival. In late years the attendance at these services, especially the afternoon, 
has been numbered in thousands. The seating capacity is about two thousand, but in late years there 
have been as many standing as were able to find seats. 





At the annual meeting-, on December 11, 
1901, the Director's report contained the in¬ 
formation that Jacob Nesper, Sr., had been 
called to his reward on December 11, 1900. 
Thus the last of the founders of the Institu¬ 
tion had passed. Messrs. Samson, Bitter 
and Blankemeier had long- since entered the 
realm of glory. 

The year 1900 is described in Pastor Pop- 
pen's history as one signally blessed from 
above. During that year the Society ad¬ 
ministered to ninety-nine children and two 
old people. There were sixty-six children in 
the Institution at the beginning of the year, 
thirty-three being added later. The re¬ 
ceipts were $3,196.51; disbursements were 
$3,119.82.* 

It was at the annual meeting on January 
12, 1904, that Pastor Theo. Meier presented 
the project of building an Old Peoples’ Home. 
He informed the assembly that the Ohio 
Pastoral Conference discussed this matter 
and urged that this project be undertaken 
at once. Pastor Wm. Wacke had presented 
this project at the conference at Edon, Ohio, 
stating that sufficient funds were in sight 
to begin a building fund. Resolutions were 
passed favorable to this project, and Pastors 
R. Klinksick, P. Kluepfel, Conrad S. Ide and 


31 


t 


Wm. Wacke were appointed an Old Folks' 
Home committee. At this meeting the 
Misses Martha Strempfer and Edith Plau 
were elected teachers of the Orphans’ Home 
School. 

At a meeting of the Iowa Synod, at Ham- 
ler, Ohio, on June 18, 1905, a special meet¬ 
ing of the Orphans’ Home Society was 
called, at which pastor Theodor Meier fully 
outlined the Old Folks’ Home project. Cash 
and pledges at this time amounted to 
$3,742.15. Resolutions were unanimously 
passed, directing the Orphans’ Home Board 
to proceed with the building during that 
present year. Messrs A. R. Kuhlman and 
Otto Ruch were added to the Board, as Build¬ 
ing Committee. The Committee met on 
March 8, 1906 and accepted plans drawn and 
presented by Architect A. Liebold. Bids 
were considered and the contract was award¬ 
ed to Mr. Otto Ruch. 

Building operations were immediately be¬ 
gun. So rapid was the progress made, that 
the corner stone was laid on Sunday, May 
13th, of the same year. Pastor Poppen de¬ 
livered the German address, and the English 
address was delivered by Pastor R. Klink- 
sick. Salem choir rendered the anthems at 
these festivities. Pastor Frederick Schmeltz, 


32 


Director of the Orphans’ Home, laid the cor¬ 
ner stone in the name of the Triune God. 
Because of the severe inclemency of the 
weather the attendance was not very large. 
The collection amounted to approximately 
eighty dollars. 

The Old Folks’ Home, which is located just 
east of the Children’s Dormitory on the Or¬ 
phans’ Home property, was dedicated on 
Sunday, October 21, 1906. 

The services were held in First St. John’s 
Church. Pastor William Wacke officiated at 
the altar. Pastor J. Appel and the General 
President of the Iowa Synod, Rev. F. Rich¬ 
ter, D.D., delivered the sermons at the fore¬ 
noon service. Rev. Frederick Schmeltz per¬ 
formed the Dedicatory rite at the Home. 
Thus the Old Folks’ Home was dedicated to 
the Works of Love and Mercy. 

During* the noon hour the weather had 
moderated considerably, so that the after¬ 
noon services were held in the open. Rev. 
W. P. Dimke, then at Waterville, Ohio, de¬ 
livered the English address at the afternoon 
service. Pastor A. Harper and Pastor C. D. 
Boomgarden, who was then at Deshler, Ohio, 
and who is now at Bethlehem Church, Tole¬ 
do, delivered the German addresses. The 
receipts on the day of dedication amounted 



34 




OUR OLD FOLKS 

Those who have never visited our Old Folks’ Home can form but a faint imagination of the real 
worth of this Haven of Rest, where our Old Folks are permitted to spend life’s evening under the loving 
care of the Sisters. Eleven of the Old Folks were unable to come out for this picture. 





to $440.00. This building is a very stately 
structure, 36 x 80 feet, with an additional 
wing for kitchen and dining room. In ad¬ 
dition to the office, the reception room and 
spacious hall, the building contains thirty- 
four rooms. The cost of construction, ex¬ 
clusive of furnishings, was approximately 
sixteen thousand dollars. 

Pastor H. Brandt served the Institution as 
Director from September, 1911 to Septem¬ 
ber, 1913. At this time an appeal was again 
sent to Rev. Frederick Schmeltz, who so 
faithfully served the Institution from 1894 
to 1911, to again accept the position of Di¬ 
rector. Rev. Schmeltz saw fit to accept and 
served from 1913 to June, 1916. Rev. F. 
W. Dietz served as superintendent from 
June, 1916 to January, 1919. Miss Lydia 
Merkle served as teacher of the Orphans’ 
Home School from September, 1909 to the 
fall of 1912. Miss Caroline Muschick taught 
the school from the fall of 1912 until the 
spring of 1919. Miss Minnie Soennichsen 
served a short period and broke down under 
the strain. Miss Hilda Proehl and Miss 
Muschick finished the season of 1919-1920. 

On November 1, 1918, Mr. C. G. Mahnke, 
who was then teacher at Salem parochial 
school, assumed the duties of Field Secretary 


of the Institutions. At the annual meeting- 
in 1919 Mr. Mahnke was also elected to the 
position of Superintendent. 

The need of a new Children’s Dormitory 
had been felt for several years. In fact the 
Board had established what is known as the 
Orphans’ Home Building Fund, and had 
made some effort to secure pledges and cash 
for this cause. 

At the annual meeting of the Society, in 
February, 1916, a Building Fund Committee 
was elected after some discussion. At the 
time when this committee was elected there 
were some four thousand dollars in the 
building fund. Resolutions were also passed 
at this meeting to inaugurate a campaign 
for funds in view of securing sufficient 
moneys for a suitable building. The Society 
had formerly planned the construction of 
a building at the cost of about twenty-five 
thousand dollars. The discussion of this 
project at this annual meeting resulted in a 
much larger vision for the future, and the 
Society’s goal was then set for at least one 
hundred thousand dollars for a new build¬ 
ing. This Building Fund Committee was 
composed of Dr. W. W. Penske, chairman; 
H. C. Bitter, Financial and Recording Secre¬ 
tary; A. R. Kuhlman, Treasurer, and Ernest 


36 


Trempf, John Balsmeyer, Henry Hilclebrandt 
and Dr. Charles C. Dreyer. This committee 
held numerous meetings to plan a campaign 
and also drafted aids from each of the local 
Lutheran congregations. 

This committee with its aids, succeeded in 
raising the building fund to somewhat over 
twenty thousand dollars within a year. The 
experiences of this committee again bore out 
the fact that it is much more difficult to 
interest people in giving to an invisible pro¬ 
ject, than it is to secure cash and pledges to 
pay for an Institution which is already 
erected. Pressure from the State Super¬ 
visor of Public Institutions made other 
action necessary. In fact the old building 
was condemned by the State and something 
had to be done in order that a new building 
might become a fact. 

At the annual meeting of the Society this 
matter was again gone into thoroughly. 
Action was there taken directing the Board 
of Trustees to sell bonds in the amount of 
eighty thousand dollars to bear interest at 
four per cent, in denominations of fifty dol¬ 
lars; these bonds to mature in ten years. 

The Bond Sale Committee was composed 
of Rev. Harry P. Long, C. G. Mahnke, 
F. H. Landwehr, Ernest Trempf, Rev. E. W. 


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38 







Matzner, H. C. Bitter, Ernest F. Keiler, A. 
R. Kuhlman, Albert Dier and Jacob F. 
Nesper. 

This committee was organized by electing 
F. H. Landwehr, Chairman, and E. F. Keller. 
Secretary. At the meeting of organization 
which was held just a few days after the an¬ 
nual meeting, $8,750.00 were reported sold. 
The committee resolved to complete its task 
of selling the $80,000.00 by April 1st. On 
the February 23, 1918, issue of The Toledo 
Lutheran, a thermometer appeared with the 
old Home at the bottom and the new Home 
at the top of the mercury. This ther¬ 
mometer registers Bond sales at weekly in¬ 
tervals as follows: February 23, $15,300.00; 
March, 2, $23,800.00; March 9, $33,750.00; 
March 16, $42,850.00; March 23, $53,850.00; 
March 30, $70,000.00. In its issue of April 
6th The Toledo Lutheran reports the eighty 
thousand dollar Bond issue oversold three 
thousand dollars. 

There were several sales of two thousand 
dollars each, and quite a number bought one 
thousand dollars each. There were also 
quite a number who bought five hundred dol¬ 
lars worth of these bonds. 

On April 13th the bond sale committee 
met as guests of Mr. Kuhlman, and it was 


39 


there reported that more than eleven thous¬ 
and dollars had already been paid. The 
Toledo Lutheran Publishing Company office 
was named as a meeting- place of this com¬ 
mittee until its work is completed. 

At a meeting’ of the Orphans’ Home Board, 
April 20, 1918, the following Building Com¬ 
mittee was elected: A. R. Kuhlman, Chair¬ 
man; Dr. C. C. Dreyer, Ernest F. Keller, 
Charles C. F. Sieving and Wm. G. Wacker. 
The contract for the new children’s dormi¬ 
tory was let to the Henry J. Spieker Com¬ 
pany, General Contractors. Ground was 
broken for the new Children’s Dormitory on 
June 4, 1918. In this issue, The Toledo Lu¬ 
theran reports that $65,720.00 has been paid 
on the bond subscription of $80,000.00. The 
remainder was paid in shortly afterwards. 

Almost marvelous progress was made with 
the building of the new Childrens’ Home. 
In fact, so rapid was the progress that the 
corner stone was laid on Sunday afternoon, 
July 28, 1918, v/ithin sixty days from the be¬ 
ginning. In spite of the intense heat, which 
was almost unendurable, there were about 
one thousand people in attendance at this 
corner stone laying celebration. 

Pastor Wm. Wacke conducted the liturgic¬ 
al part of this service. Mr. A. R. Kuhlman, 

\ 


40 


Chairman of the Building Committee, pre¬ 
sided. Appropriate anthems for this occa¬ 
sion were rendered by the St. Petri Choir.-* 
The corner stone was laid by Pastor Fred¬ 
erick Schmeltz, who so faithfully served this 
Institution as Director for nineteen years. 

The Festival speakers were Rev. A. E. 
Guetzlaff, of Capac, Michigan; Rev. W. P. 
Dimke, President of the Lutheran Orphans’ 
and Old Folks' Home Society; and Rev. 
Harry P. Long, who was then Lutheran In¬ 
ner-Missionary in Toledo. 

Rev. Guetzlaff spoke on Psalm 118, verses 
22 to 25. His subject was, “This is the Day 
which Jehovah hath Made, Let us Rejoice 
and be Glad in It." Rev. Guetzlaff's address 
was an eloquent piece of oratory; wherein 
he gave God the honor for the success thus 
far. And wherein he implored, “Oh, 
Jehovah, we Beseech Thee, Send now Pros¬ 
perity." 

Rev. Dimke’s text was taken from Psalm 
127 the first verse, “Except the Lord Build 
the House they Labor in Vain that Build 
It." It will hardly be necessary to state 
how this text was applied on this occasion. 
Rev. Dimke’s address was one of praise and 
thanksgiving to Almighty God for success 
achieved, calling attention to the efforts and 


41 



42 


ONE OF OUR SCHOOL ROOMS 

This picture shows a portion of one of the two School Rooms at the Home. Here our children are 
not only given a thorough elementary secular training, but they are also thoroughly catechized and in¬ 
doctrinated in Christian Truths. A privilege of which ail too many children are deprived in our day. 









hardships of the founders of this Institu¬ 
tion. The speaker also called the attention 
of the children to the fact that they too, 
should be thankful that Christian Charity is 
endeavoring- to erect such a magnificent 
Home for them. How they ought to strive 
to live in peace and harmony with one an¬ 
other; how they ought to vie with one an¬ 
other in submitting obediently to the rules 
and regulations of the Home. 

Reverend Long, in his magnificent address 
reviewed the history of Lutheran Orphans’ 
Homes. He apprized his hearers of the fact 
that there are sixty-six Lutheran Orphans’ 
Homes in the United States: That these 
Homes provide an abode for about forty- 
three hundred homeless children bereft of 
their parents. The property is valued at 
about five million dollars. He said that the 
greatest Orphans’ Home in the world, which 
has been the model for most of the Orphans’ 
Homes for the last two hundred years, Is a 
Lutheran Orphans’ Home, which was estab¬ 
lished by August Herman Franke, at Halle, 
and continues until this day to be the Home 
of about two thousand children. The speaker 
also related the fact that our Orphans’ Home 
comes within six years of being the oldes 
Institution of its kind in the Luthera; 


48 


Church in America. He also called atten¬ 
tion to the fact that the Home was founded 
by the sainted Pastor Doerfler in the dark 
and gloomy days of the Civil War; and also 
that this new Home is being constructed 
during the darkest days in the history of 
the world, during the World War. 

Early in October, 1918, the Orphans' 
Home Board announced the Bonds ready for 
delivery. The Bond sale committee was 
again called into active service, each being 
requested and agreeing gladly to deliver the 
Bonds sold by him. At the meeting of the 
Bond Sale Committee on October 8th, an¬ 
nouncement was made that $1,300.00 in 
bonds had already been donated to the build¬ 
ing fund. The Toledo Lutheran had, edit¬ 
orially, from the beginning of this campaign, 
predicted that before the ten years expired, 
fifty percent of these Bonds would be do¬ 
nated. At this writing, January, 1923, 
about four and one-half years have passed 
and over thirteen thousand dollars worth of 
these Bonds have been donated to date. We 
still feel and hope that our prediction will 
materialize. 

On Sunday, April 6, 1919, the new Chil¬ 
dren’s Dormitory which stands out as a Gib¬ 
raltar among the buildings on the East Side 


44 


in Toledo, was dedicated. Reverend A. F. 
Augustine, President of the Western Dis¬ 
trict of the Iowa Synod; Rev. H. L. Fritschel, 
Rector of the Passavant Institutions of Mil¬ 
waukee; Rev. M. W. Brueckner, of Alpena, 
Michigan, and Rev. L. H. Schuh, Ph. D., 
were the festival speakers on this occasion. 
Rev. W. P. Dimke, President of the Luther¬ 
an Orphans’ and Old Folks’ Home Society 
performed the Dedicatory Rite. The Salem 
Lutheran Choir, directed by Mr. Charles C. 
F. Sieving, and accompanied by Miss Dom- 
rose, rendered the anthems at this Festival. 
The forenoon service was held in the First 
St. John’s Church, where onty a portion of 
the attendance could gain admittance. Rev. 
A. F. Augustine and Rev. Fritschel were the 
speakers at the forenoon service. Rev. M. 
Brueckner and Dr. L. H. Schuh delivered the 
afternoon addresses. The attendance on 
this festive occasion was estimated at forty- 
five hundred persons. The plate collections 
amounted to $2,084.06. In addition to this 
there was an individual donation of one 
thousand dollars toward the furnishings of 
the boys dormitory. All the other rooms in 
the entire building except the auditorium, 
had been pledged previous to the day of dedi¬ 
cation. The furnishings for the auditorium 


45 



46 


DINING ROOM 

Here is where the entire Orphans' Family partakes of its Daily Bread for both body and soul. 
Those standing were seated at the first table, too close to the camera. This picture was taken at the close 
of a noon meal. Here is one Dining: Room where Thanks are always given. 











were later pledged and supplied by The Fed¬ 
eration of Brotherhoods of Toledo. The 
procession from the old home to the new, 
was led by the superintendent, and Rev. 
Dimke, President of the Society. Then fol¬ 
lowed members of the Board of Trustees, 
the Deaconesses and the entire Orphans 
Family. The singing of “Jesus Still Lead 
On, Till our Rest is Won,” added to the 
impressiveness of the procession. We 
want to stop here to say that sixty years 
ago last summer, the sainted Pastor Beckel 
was escorted into the Home by Pastor Doer- 
fler and his school children, singing this 
same wonderful hymn in the German langu¬ 
age, “Jesu Geh Voran.” 

The new Dormitory contains, in its base¬ 
ment, the main dining room, kitchen, large 
laundry room, furnace room which contains 
the heating plant for the entire Institution 
and a small dining room. The first floor con¬ 
tains the Deaconesses sleeping rooms and 
parlor, the Institution office, the reception 
parlor, two school rooms and an auditorium 
with seating capacity of three hundred and 
fifty. This auditorium by the way has 
proven to be a wonderful asset to the In¬ 
stitution. Meetings are held there from 
time to time by various organizations, which 


47 



48 


THE AUDITORIUM 

This picture shows the graduation exercises of the Orphans’ Home Parochial School with only the 
Orphans’ Home family in attendance. Many local Church Societies use this Auditorium for entertain¬ 
ments, which not only entertain our children, but bring many people to the Home, who perhaps other¬ 
wise would not become interested in its welfare. 













bring many people in close touch with the 
Home, who otherwise might not have this 
opportunity or occasion. 

The second floor contains the sleeping 
quarters for the smaller children, the 
teacher's living quarters, the open air play 
room, and the sewing room. 

On the third floor are sleeping quarters 
for the larger children, the attendants' liv¬ 
ing rooms and the Hospital. The building 
is strictly modern in every respect, and as 
nearly fire-proof as modern methods of con¬ 
struction can make it. 

That the Orphans' Home maintains a 
Christian day school with two teachers, is a 
feature that we dare not pass without com¬ 
ment. We have previously stated and will 
here repeat that thousands upon thousands 
of children have cause to envy the children 
who are brought up at our Institution on 
Seaman street. The children brought up at 
our Orphans’ Home are not only taught the 
studies of the Public Schools, and are able 
to take their position in High School when 
graduating from the eighth grade of our 
school, but are also given Religious Instruc¬ 
tion every day in the year. 

Since July 1, 1918, when Sister Martha 
Proehl arrived and was placed in charge of 


49 



50 


Here our friends may view one of the four Sleeping Rooms in the Children’s Dormitory. Large and 
well ventilated. An attendant sleeps in an adjoining room to each of these four sleeping rooms, thereby 
keeping perfect order and also assuring proper care in case of sudden illness. 














































the smaller children, Deaconesses have been 
in charge of the Home. Sister Helen Pan¬ 
ning arrived at the Institution on December 
1, 1918. Sister Marie Eckhoff and Sister 
Minna Kuethe arrived some time later and 
are in charge of the Old Folks’ Home. Sister 
Eckhoff is the matron. Sister Martha 
Proehl is matron of the Orphans’ Home. 

With the enlargement of the Institution, 
and with the changing laws regarding such 
Institutions, the administrative work is of 
an entirely different nature than it was in 
former years. In fact the duties of the 
Superintendent are so manifold that for the 
past four years Mrs. Frieda Fritz has been 
employed at the Home as office secretary. 
Mrs. Fritz, because of her thorough know¬ 
ledge of both languages, and her devotion to 
the cause, is particularly qualified for this 
position. The Field Secretary has visited 
congregations in Texas during the past 
year, with very remarkable results. After 
addressing and canvassing thirty congrega¬ 
tions, his pledges secured amounted to over 
forty thousand dollars. The Texas District 
of the Iowa Synod was given to the Toledo 
Institution at a meeting of Synod two years 
ago. 

At the meeting of the Board of Trustees 


51 


held on February 8, 1923, the resignation of 
Mr. Mahnke, as Superintendent, was unani¬ 
mously accepted. At the March meeting of 
the Board, Dr. Charles C. Dreyer was elected 
Acting Superintendent of the Institution. 
At this writing Dr. Dreyer is still serving in 
that capacity. 

The personel at the Institution at this 
writing is as follows: 

Old Folks’ Home—Sister Marie Eckhoff, 
Matron; Sister Minna Kuethe, Miss Floy 
Ruehle, and Miss Helen Moll. 

Orphans’ Home—Sister Martha Proehl, 
Matron; Sister Helen Panning, Sister Edith 
Hansen, Miss Heldegard Proehl, attendant 
small girls; Miss Anna Johnson, attendant 
small boys; Miss Margarete Mussgang and 
Miss Rosa Engelbrecht, teachers; Miss 
Frieda Bodtke, cook; Miss Elizabeth Gype 
and Mrs. Sophie M. Wells, seamstresses; 
Mrs. Frieda C. Fritz, office secretary; Harry 
E. Bock, supervisor of boys; Christ Onnenga, 
farmer. Miss Ella Kraushaar served as 
teacher from 1920-1922. 

In order to give our friends an idea of the 
growing interest in the annual festivals 
which have been held annually since 1862, 
we want to state that in 1862 the offering 
amounted to $54.00. In 1870, $185.00; in 


52 


1880, $306.00; in 1890, $254.00; in 1900, 
$277.00; in 1909, $668.00; in 1920, $2,753.00. 
At this writing there are eighty-one children 
at the Orphans’ Home, forty-six boys and 
thirty-five girls, ranging in age from two 
months to eighteen years. At the Old Folks" 
Home there are thirty-eight old people; six¬ 
teen men and twelve women. 

The present Board of Trustees is com¬ 
posed of: Rev. W. P. Dimke, President; A. 
R. Kuhlman, Vice-president; Rev. Theodore 
G. Klinksick, Secretary; Ernest F. Keller, 
Treasurer; Dr. Chas. C. Dreyer, Oscar Heck- 
linger, H. A. Krueger, Rev. Theo. Meier, 
Jacob Nesper, Rev. Max Schleicher, Rev. H. 
Schalkhausser, Albert Dier, Arthur Lebow- 
sky, John F. Wagner. Rev. E. W. Matzner, 
Marine City, Mich., is advisory member of 
the Board. Dr. Chas. C. Dreyer is chief of 
the medical staff. Dr. W. W. Penske is the 
dental surgeon. Reverend William Wacke is 
ex-officio member of the Board and Pastor of 
the Institution. 

Earliers in this writing we have spoken of 
the Christian Day School that is being con¬ 
ducted and maintained at our Orphans’ 
Home. It is impossible to overestimate the 
value of such a school. One of our pictures 
herein shows the auditorium during the 


53 











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Several families bereft of parents are here represented. Note the two babies in the crib. Our 
Home cares for all ages. When Mother’s arms are stilled by death, substitutes are provided here. Can 
your mind conceive a more laudable work ? 

You will note that several of the little ones appear afraid. There is a reason—This was the third 
“flash light” picture taken within an hour. 















Graduating Exercises. Pupils graduating 
from this school are not only able to take 
their places as freshmen in High School 
along with eighth grade graduates of our 
public schools, but also have a religious edu¬ 
cation which is impossible to secure any¬ 
where, only in a Christian day school. We 
want to add this to what we have said be¬ 
fore in defense of the Christian Day School, 
not only at our Lutheran Orphans’ Home, 
but in all Lutheran Congregations who still 
are old fashioned enough to believe that it is 
necessary to teach their children the funda¬ 
mentals of Christian Truth. This may not be 
entirely in place in a Lutheran Orphans’ 
Home History, but we want to express the 
opinion, in fact, we want to predict that it 
will not be long before many congregations 
will regret the day when they took action to 
discontinue their Lutheran Parochial Schools. 

We cannot close this writing without a 
few words on the business administration of 
our Institution. To the readers of this brief 
sketch of historical facts we have quoted a 
few figures on annual expenditures back in 
the early days. Please let it be understood 
that in those days, both laws and salaries 
were entirely different than they are today. 
Our law-makers have made so many laws 


55 



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> 


> 




governing Institutions of Mercy that it not 
only costs more to live and more to die than 
in former days, but it also costs a great deal 
more to conduct an Orphans’ and Old Folks’ 
Home, according to the laws of the State. 
Our Institution office conducts just as fine 
and accurate an accounting system as is con¬ 
ducted by any of the largest corporations in 
the land. In order to be able to present a 
statement of receipts and disbursements to 
the State authorities and also to the Toledo 
Community Chest, all products from the 
farm from a quart of berries, a dozen of 
eggs, a gallon of milk, to the corn or hay 
are accounted for at prevailing market 
prices. This, and the proper crediting of 
all funds requires a thoroughly efficient ac¬ 
countant, which our Institution is fortunate 
to have in Mrs. Frieda Fritz, the Office Sec¬ 
retary. Purchases of commodities required 
for the Institution must be made in the open 
market. This also requires a man as superin¬ 
tendent who has a thorough knowledge, not 
only of the Institution’s requirements, but 
also where he may procure them. There is 
not nearly as much sentiment in the busi¬ 
ness world today as there was fifty years or 
twenty-five years ago. In the earlier days 
the average merchant would sharpen his 


pencil and figure his price on supplies for an 
Institution like ours, down to an absolute 
minimum. True there are still some today 
who have this same sentiment. But, the 
great majority treat an Institution of mercy 
just the same as they do any other Institu¬ 
tion which is brought into existence for 
profit. Let us all strive to retain the faith 
and spirit of our fathers (in and toward acts 
of mercy), never growing weary in well-do¬ 
ing, for the harvest indeed will be a joyous 
one, if we faint not. 


57 



58 


It is here that the business of the Institution is conducted and the guests are received. In the 
Reception Room, beyond the Office, one can frequently see a father, where mother has been taken away, 
visiting with his children on Sunday afternoon. 














A Closing Word 

In glancing- back over these sixty-two 
years of history of what I consider the 
greatest of all Institutions, because I know 
of no greater work than to care for Orphans 
and Old Folks, I want to impress upon the 
minds of those who may chance to read 
these lines, that the conducting of this Insti¬ 
tution has not been a “constant path of 
roses.” Many have been the hardships and 
many have been the heart-aches of the 
trustees and officers in charge. 

The support of the child, deprived of the 
loving care of a mother, and the support of 
an old grandfather or grandmother, who is 
facing life’s evening, unable to care for him 
or herself, is an absolute duty we owe to 
God and to humanity. Our venerable fore¬ 
fathers who founded this Institution and 
whom God endowed with a vision and with 
sympathy, have long since been called to 


59 


their reward. Many of those who have 
labored so faithfully and have given the 
best of their lives to what is now our Institu¬ 
tion, have also been called to their reward. 
It is now for us who are able, to assume the 
duties, and to give of our means and of our 
service, that this God- pleasing work be 
maintained and promoted. 


GO 



61 
















































































